Walt Disney World is a great place for a family vacation full of fun, imagination, and memories. But many who visit there seem to spend more money, time, and effort than they need to. Here is a guide to help you get the most of your money and time- while having fun.

Ad

Steps

1

Determine when you want to go. As the parent, you should decide the best time for your family to visit the "world". "Off times", such as the fall and certain times in the spring, offer cheaper rates and fewer lines, but you might have to take the kids out of school and the weather may not be ideal. If your children will have a hard time keeping up, consider going over a break, when your children will miss less school. Keep in mind, then there might be more lines. If you decide to take your children out of school, ask if you can have some or all of the homework before hand so they can do it on the plane or in the car. A good idea as to when to go to Walt Disney World with kids if you are not keen about missing school is in August. School is still out for summer vacation, but Disney considers this to be 'off-peak'. Be prepared to deal with the heat.

Ad

2

Decide how long you are going to stay. Disney recommends a seven-day stay. Keep in mind that there are four parks, three separate shopping areas, two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon),and all of central Florida. Some families take 10-11 days to do it all, giving two or so days to "rest".

3

Book a hotel or condo (if you have a larger family; number wise, not size wise) Find one close to WDW, possibly on Disney property if you can afford it. If you stay on property, parking is free at the Disney parks, and you have unlimited use of Disney transportation as well as many other perks only offered to WDW Resort guests, such as Extra Magic Hours, which allow you to stay in the park after non-resort guests leave. If you are interested in returning numerous times, you can get a cheap condo at Orange Lake Resorts, just west of Animal Kingdom. There are also condos at Windsor Hills, which is just 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Disney entrance.

4

Book a flight. Find a flight to Orlando International Airport, and if you purchased a rental car, use a courtesy shuttle to get to your car pick-up. Try to get one early in the morning, like 6am-8am ,or whenever it would be easiest for your family. Remember to leave time for checking and getting your luggage.

5

Buy your tickets, if possible, before arrival. You can get tickets from a Disney store or you can get discounted tickets online. There are automated ticket machines at parks, if you need to. Also, keep in mind there are different types of tickets, so choose the type best for your family. "Magic Your Way" tickets may be a good deal if you are going to every park.

6

Choose what you want to do each day. There are four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), three separate shopping areas (Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, and Celebration) and more to keep in mind. There is also Universal Studios theme park. Although adults and older children might recognize more things about that park, smaller children still seem to enjoy themselves. For a seven day vacation, an example is: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Rest with shopping at the three places, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and then on the last day, do whatever YOU want. You may want to make a plan so that you know where to go on each day.

7

Arrive early in the parks. They usually open at about 9 am, but there are Extra Magic Hours. At the Check-In Desk for a Disney hotel, there will be maps and a Times Guide. In a Disney Hotel, you can also look on your TV. It has all the day's info.

Ad

We could really use your help!

Can you tell us abouthigh heels?

Yes

No

high heels

how to feel comfortable in high heels

Can you tell us aboutAdobe Photoshop?

Yes

No

Adobe Photoshop

how to use Photoshop CS3

Can you tell us aboutpersonal grooming?

Yes

No

personal grooming

how to thread your own eyebrows

Can you tell us aboutacne?

Yes

No

acne

how to pop a pimple with no pain

Thanks for helping! Please tell us everything you know about

...

Tell us everything you know here. Remember, more detail is better.

Tips

Provide Details.

Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. Don't worry about formatting! We'll take care of it.
For example:Don't say: Eat more fats.Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.

Tips

Make sure that every member of the family packs comfortable walking shoes or sneakers that are already broken-in.

Eat a medium-sized breakfast. Eat a late or early lunch to not get caught in the lunch rush. and a dinner of however hungry you are. Dinner is the most expensive meal, so be cautious to the prices so your bill isn't sky high.

If you somehow become bored during your visit, or want to add something else you can do, looking for "Hidden Mickeys" is a very entertaining way to pass time. There is a Hidden Mickey book that you can buy at stores throughout the park that tells the locations of most of the Hidden Mickeys throughout all the parks and rides. If you don't know what a Hidden Mickey is, click the link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Mickeys)

An alternative to having three meals is to eat a larger breakfast and just munch on things during the day. Disney is full of fantastic places to eat dinner so you do not want to spoil your appetite with eating lunch too late.

Universal Studios is a park, not owned by Disney, but focusing on entertainment. For example, you may see a Nickelodeon show being shot, a Blues Brothers re-enactment, movie props from Jaws, etc. Even though little kids might not recognize or enjoy some of the attractions, and you might not be there for as long as you'll be at the Magic Kingdom, it's worth walking around if you're so inclined.

Plan your trip on the plane/train/boat/car or even at home before you get there. It'll save you tons of time!

At the Magic Kingdom it is best to approach the park systematically. Do not simply go to the "good rides" like Space Mountain and then to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Best practice would be to walk down Main Street and pick a direction and move either clockwise or counterclockwise and visit all of the rides for a section while in that area.

Borrow as many guides to Disney World as possible. (Look in your local library)

There are several good rides to experience while it's raining. These include the Haunted Mansion, the Hall of Presidents, Universe of Energy and The American Adventure at Epcot, The Great Movie Ride at Disney Studios, and Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. Keep in mind that rain in Florida only lasts about 20-30 min, and with Universe of Energy being nearly 45 minutes, that will definitely pass some time.

Warnings

Shower twice a day, or more. It keeps you refreshed and happy. Do it once in the morning before you leave for the park and once before bed, especially if you were swimming. But be cautious of the time in the morning if you have a large family.

"Bring a small, cheap notebook and large pen for character signatures, don't buy the overpriced one there," is what most people say, but if it's small and cheap, maybe someone in your family will throw it away! Be cautious of red-cent savers that don't want to splurge on ANYTHING. You are here to have a good time, so spend some money on things you really enjoy.

Wear and bring sunscreen. Preferably one that is waterproof, sweat-proof, and a high SPF, like Bullfrog.

Read through those guide books to make sure you really need them. Avoid ones full of fluff like pictures and graphics, find ones with real information. Birnbaum's are top-notch, but can be expensive.

If you have a child in middle school or high school, think long and hard before taking them out of school to go on vacation. Many teachers have a policy of not giving make-up work ahead of time for a vacation, and in some schools it is against the rules. Check the student handbook to see if your administration allows it, and even if they do, don't be surprised if a teacher says no.